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92 Temp. L. Rev. Online 1 (2020)

handle is hein.journals/tlro92 and id is 1 raw text is: COMEDY COLLIDES WITH THE COURTROOM Rachel L. DiCioccio* and Laura E. Little** ABSTRACT The adversarial system of litigation in many common law countries follows the model of a ritualized battle between opponents. Interspersed throughout the litigation process are inflection points where interpersonal conflict becomes particularly prominent. These conflicts are an integral part ofthe system's design with attorneys each acting independently to fulfill their professional obligation to advocate zealously for disputing clients. How does humor operate in this system? Tracing an overview ofkey conflict points in the litigation process, this Article analyzes the effect of different humor types identified by communication scholars as having the effect of diffusing or exacerbating those conflicts. This Article describes real-ife examples to illustrate how participants in the legal process (lawyers, clients, judges, andjurors) use aggressive humor, ad hominin humor, sarcasm, and affiliative humor. While some humor styles may soften and humanize the interpersonal interactions among the participants, the question arises whether other styles are more effective in achieving the system's ultimate goal of obtaining legitimate, just, andfair dispute resolution. Questions further emerge about the circumstances when humor backfires and undermines the goals of litigation. TABLE OF CONTENTS IN TR O D U CTIO N ............................................................................................................ . . 2 I. HUMOR AND COMMUNICATION THEORY ...................................................................4 II. JOKES D URING JURY SELECTION .............................................................................. 6 III. OPENING STATEM ENT H UM OR................................................................................ 8 IV . CROSS-EXAM INATION H UM OR .............................................................................. 10 V . IN-COURT JOKES BY JUDGES................................................................................... 13 V I. FORMAL LITIGATION W RITINGS ........................................................................... 15 A . A ttorney Filings in Court..................................................................... . 15 B. Jokes in Judicial Opinions.................................................................. .17 V II. SEN TE N CIN G ........................................................................................................ . 19 V III. A PPELLATE ARGUMENTS.................................................................................. 20 * Ph.D., Professor, Harrington School of Communication and Media and Director of the Office of Innovation in General Education, University of Rhode Island. ** J.D., James G. Schmidt Professor of Law and Senior Advisor to the Dean, Temple University Beasley School ofLaw. This Article was selected as the winner of the 2019 Edward Ohlbaum Annual Paper in Advocacy Scholarship, an honor created in memory of Edward Ohlbaum. I

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